Lt Pinkerton wrote:
I know I've said this a hundred times but why do you think that the return of a former band member who literally had 0% direct creative input into their earlier stuff would make them release another Blue or Pinkerton? Also The White Album is better than anything that Matt has ever released and this is coming from someone who loves The Rentals but if Rivers has lost it then Matt never even had it in the first place.

And yeah Feels Like Summer is fucking embarrassing.

First, welcome back!.... I've missed you on these forums and we have so much to catch-up on, despite our conflicting views regarding Matt and Weezer. Anyways, I feel some underestimate Matt's input/contributions into "Blue" and "Pinkerton". I reacted extremely delighted by the "White Album" and I believe I remarked at the time I can finally accept Matt's departure from the band the fact that he will never return. But then, Rivers goes out and releases a horrid track in "I Love the USA" (perhaps it was forced) and I never thought he can potentially continue towards a further downward spiral from there and then he comes up w/the absurd "Feels Like Summer".

It's just that Weezer has not been consistent since Matt left. Only the "White Album" was the full length album that I could bare listening to each and every single track with complete gratification, but the other albums maybe might contain 2-3 tracks each that are even tolerable.

I've loved the Rentals and I feel if Rivers and Matt ever collaborate again they will combine both sounds and produce their best album(s) yet. "Pinkerton" was definitely ahead of its time which is why it wasn't accepted back in 1996, but I feel both again can do something beyond special. Will that ever materialize? More than likely not, but I still contend it would be for their both respective best interest!

davidsutter wrote:I think Lost in Alphaville is better than the White Album.

I actually agree.... Matt is taking more risks and exhibiting a wider range when Weezer on the "White Album" tried to recapture their earlier sound (which isn't all too bad). Again, I believe Matt can add that missing ingredient that Weezer has been lacking for quite some time...Just in injection of a more harder-edge innovative approach.

davidsutter wrote:I think Lost in Alphaville is better than the White Album.

I actually agree.... Matt is taking more risks and exhibiting a wider range when Weezer on the "White Album" tried to recapture their earlier sound (which isn't all too bad). Again, I believe Matt can add that missing ingredient that Weezer has been lacking for quite some time...Just in injection of a more harder-edge innovative approach.

Taking risks? Lost In Alphaville (which I love, btw) is just a compilation of reworked songs that he had already released and that pretty much sound the same as The Rentals' debut album. And I mean, even the classical Rentals sound was Rivers' idea, not Matt's. I like the guy's music but saying he's ever been innovative is a long shot Also, the guy has released like only 20 songs since 1999. Weezer have been pretty bad but at least they've tried. It's easy not to fuck up if you're just there sitting at home and living off royalties from albums you didn't even write. Re: Matt's contributions to the first two records, I believe they came in a rather indirect way, maybe challenging Rivers when he wasn't fully on board with some of his decisions, but that's it. He didn't write a single bass line, lyric or melody. Rivers even gave songwriting credits to Cropper for My Name Is Jonas and Pat's got credits in a couple of Blue songs as well but there's never been evidence of Matt's real contribution to the band. What I'm trying to say is that Matt is really a pretentious asshole (he sued Rivers, FFS) who isn't as talented as most people believe he is. If Weezer have sucked it is simply because of Rivers.

Also while obviously not the most experimental album out there, Weezer took more risks in White (Thank God For Girls, Jacked Up, Wind In Our Sail) than Matt did in Alphaville, which, once again, it's just a compilation album. So I'm not buying that White's mostly Weezer by numbers.

Lt Pinkerton wrote:
Taking risks? Lost In Alphaville (which I love, btw) is just a compilation of reworked songs that he had already released and that pretty much sound the same as The Rentals' debut album. And I mean, even the classical Rentals sound was Rivers' idea, not Matt's. I like the guy's music but saying he's ever been innovative is a long shot Also, the guy has released like only 20 songs since 1999. Weezer have been pretty bad but at least they've tried. It's easy not to fuck up if you're just there sitting at home and living off royalties from albums you didn't even write. Re: Matt's contributions to the first two records, I believe they came in a rather indirect way, maybe challenging Rivers when he wasn't fully on board with some of his decisions, but that's it. He didn't write a single bass line, lyric or melody. Rivers even gave songwriting credits to Cropper for My Name Is Jonas and Pat's got credits in a couple of Blue songs as well but there's never been evidence of Matt's real contribution to the band. What I'm trying to say is that Matt is really a pretentious asshole (he sued Rivers, FFS) who isn't as talented as most people believe he is. If Weezer have sucked it is simply because of Rivers.

Also while obviously not the most experimental album out there, Weezer took more risks in White (Thank God For Girls, Jacked Up, Wind In Our Sail) than Matt did in Alphaville, which, once again, it's just a compilation album. So I'm not buying that White's mostly Weezer by numbers.

First, I feel where we really beg to differ is how much credit Matt is entitled to for Weezer's initial wave of success and how much input he truly had on their earlier albums/recordings. That's been debated among other diehard Weezer fans for years and it's difficult to convince one otherwise to change their beliefs on that. I contend he kept Rivers in check at times. Also, I necessarily wouldn't consider Matt a "pretentious asshole" for suing Rivers because he had every right to do so and it has been common practice for years for others in bands to sue for credit or royalty reasons. But again, it's based on what side of the fence anyone is on regarding Matt's actual contributions which again we contrast on. Also, it's a matter of opinion on how one views how talented Matt is... No one is either right or wrong there, just contingent on our own respective taste.

As far as output is concern between Weezer and Matt (Rentals) it's again that standard measurement of quality vs. quantity. I feel Matt's body of work is extremely solid and more consistent and Rivers shouldn't have released several of the albums he has. "White Album" was excellent, however, the risk he took on it was essentially what he was doing back on the "Blue Album" and "Pinkerton"....He just went full circle. I just feel the depth and even some of the minimalism that Matt resorted to on "Lost in Alphaville" was refreshing and innovative especially compared to most of today's music. But again, it's all a matter of opinion where no one is right nor wrong honestly. But it certainly is enjoyable to debate about!

It's hard to think of a song like Only In Dreams not having input from the bass player.

And yeah, the Rentals have come out with less music than Weezer but I'd be alright with Weezer doing less.
Trimming the fat from tracklists. If they took some breaks in the 2000s perhaps they would have been more solid.

I dig the song Beach Boys, nice change from getting blasted with guitars. But as one youtube commenter said, it's almost autumn. Should have released the album a month ago. But summer's not over yet in Cali, it's going to be 100F this week!